Methods of and apparatus for working materials



p W55 J. SMEDLEY 2341 164 METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING MATERIALS 7 Sheets-Sheet l 306:} g

Filed Feb. 18, 1952 I I :26 55 Q J. SMEDLEY April 10, 1956 METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING MATERIALS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1952 J. SMEDLEY April 10, 1956 METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING MATERIALS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 18, 1952 m z/z/roe J 0/1/11 SME D L E y 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I/I/VEIYTM J DHN SMED L E Y TS-"TI III J. SMEDLEY METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING MATERIALS Filed Feb. 1 8, 1952 V April 10, 1956 .1. SMEDLEY 2,741,164

METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING MATERIALS Filed Feb. 18, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 7 9% I/W/ENTOR JOH/V SMHJLEV ATTVS.

A3953 195% J. SMAEDLEY METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING MATERIALS '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Feb. 18, 1952 H :Q L ::::::T M/Vf/UTOK JO/M/ smzm y 5 WM w j y HTTVQ United States Patent METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FQR WORKING John Smedley, Chellaston, Derby, England, assignor to Rolls-Royce Limited, Derby, England, a British com- P y Application February is, m s-assent 1 19311994.

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 2i 1-951 I7 Claims. (Cl. 90-24.3)

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus-for the Working of materials and relates specifically to the forming of an edge surface, that is a marginal portion of a surface which marginal portion lies adjacent an edge defining thejunction of said surface with a second surface.

According to this invention, a method of forming an edge surface comprises the steps of forming a shaving or like tool to have a cutting profile apart at least of which conforms to the profile of a transverse section of the .desired edge surface, and machining the edge surface by effecting a cutting traverse of the tool lengthwise of .the edge surface and during the traverse simultaneously effecting relative rocking movement of the tool. and the edge surface about an axis substantially parallelto the direction of the traverse.

Preferably the axis, about which the relative rocking of the tool and the edge surface takes place, coincides .substarrtially with the edge of the edge surface.

According to one arrangement of the invention, the edge surface on eachside of an edge which is the junction be tween the surfaces may be machined simultaneously by one 1001 having cutting profile parts shaped to conform to the profile of a transverse section through the edge, .the tool being arranged to straddle the edge during the machining operation.

Some edge surfaces which may be machined by the method according to the invention are such that each section taken through the edge surface at right angles to the edge is substantially symmetrical about a straight line, which will be referred to as the line of symmetry o'f-the surface, and the point where the line of-symmetry meets the edge surface will be referred to as the point of symmetry.- 1

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the cutting profile of the tool is shaped to conform *tothe profile of the largest section of "the edge surface taken at right angles to the edge, and the axis abontwhich the relative rocking movement of the tool and the edge surface is effected, is arranged substantially to coincide with the locus of'the points of symmetry of the edge surface.

This invention has anirnportant application injthe machining of the leading and trailing edges of blades for axial-flow compressors or turbines. Such a blade normally has its largest section adjacent its'root end, i. esthe end by which it is secured to its associated part vof the compressor or turbine, 'and the cross-section of'the'blade normally decreases gradually from the root to theLtip. As a result the thickness of the leading-and trailing-edge surfaces'also gradually decreases from root to tip. 'Further more such blades are often twisted about a -longitudinal axis so that the line of symmetry of the'tip chordal section lies at an angle to the line of symmetry'of the-root chordal section.

According to a feature of'this invention therefore, a -methodofmac'hining an edgeof a blade for an axial fiow compressor 01' turbine comprises the steps of forming a-shaving or'like-tool-to have a cutting'profilepart at least of which conforms substantially to -:a symmetrical portion ice of the outlinelof. the root chordal section at the edge, and forming the edge by elfecting a cutting traverse of the tool on: ,a blade blank in a direction lengthwise .of the blade blank and simultaneously effecting relative rocking movementrofnthe cutting tool and the blade blank about an axis which is substantially parallel to the direction of traverse and passes through the point of symmetry of the :oolprofile.

Therelative rocking movement of the tool and theblade blank will be employed to accommodate a gradual dc.- cr ease in thickness of the edge section from the root :of theblade .to the tip, or to accommodate the twist in the blade .or, to accommodate both gradual decrease inthickness and twist.

If for instance, the blade is ofuniform section but has a. twist, then, the relative rocking movemenbot the *tool and the blade blank will besuch that as the tool-move .length;- wise of the. blade the angular position of the tool relative ,to the blade blank will be progressively changed maccQmmOdatethe twist. Thus if the lines-0f. symmetry of the sections of the edge surface of the blade program sing from root to tip vary through the angle a per unit lengthof blade thena relative rocking throughan angle a per unit length of traverse will be effected between the .tool and the blade blank.

If, forinstance, theblade has no twist and the thickness .ofthe .edge section decreases .fromxroot to tip :to anextent such that the tool and the. blade .blariktml stibeangularly adjusted through an angle 6 per .uuitlength. of blade to enable theportionof the-cutting profiletof the tool to one side of its point of symmetry to sweep out the desired contour of the corresponding surface adjacent thetedge', then the desired contour of the edge will be producedby a series of traverses of the tool with respect to the blade blank with relative rocking movement of they tool; and the blade blankduring each traverse and the. extent of the relative rocking will be varied .in increments .fIOm traverse to traverse vfrom a maximum angular adjustment during the one traverse ofp :per unit length of bladein one direction from the mean position and to .amaXimuni angular adjustment during another traverse of ,5 per Length of blade in the opposite direction from the mean position.

[\rllhere the blade has both twist and decreasing edge section from root .to tip then the edge will ,againbe-machinedin a number-of traverses with the relative rocking movement of the tool and blade blank being :varied in increments from traverse to traverse between limits of a+p and o e per unit length of blade.

The machining of axial-flow compressor-or turbine blades-asldescribedabove can be employed with advantage after a :fQrging operation to remove the flash of excess metal :usually lefton the edges of the blade blank by "the forging operation.

Normally the flash will be removed by a number of successive traverses of the tool along the'edge oftheblade blank and in this case, in addition to the-tool and blade blank being traversed lengthwise of theedge :and being rocked relative to one anothen-the toolwill be fed'chordwise towards theedge in steps.

Preferably in this case .the chordwise feeding occurs during the angular adjustment of the blade blank relative to the tool in onesense, and the feeding is completed, so thatone-edge surface of the blade'blank is machined 10 its final shape during the traverse which DGCUIS Eti JhE position of maximum adjustment in this sense, and the blade blank and the tool are then adjusted-in the opposite sense by relative rocking so that the remainder of the bladejs then machined to its final :form in .anumber ,of traverses.

This invention also includes improved apparatus for working materials by the method above set forth.

According to a feature of this invention therefore, apparatus for working materials to machine an edge surface comprises a shaving, or scraping, or the like tool having a cutting profile part at least of which conforms to the profile of a transverse section of the desired edge surface, means to traverse the toei along a workpiece to effect a shaving, or scraping or the like operation, and rocking means simultaneously to effect a relative rocking movement of the workpiece and tool about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of traverse.

According to a further feature of the invention, apparatus for Working materials to machine an edge of a blade for an axial-flow compressor or turbine comprises a shaving, or scraping or the like tool having a cutting profile conforming to the profile of a'transverse section of the desired edge at the root of the blade, means to traverse the tool along a blade blank to efiect a shaving, or scraping, or the like operation, and rocking means simultaneously to effect a relative rocking movement of the blade blank and tool about an axis which is substantially parallel to the direction of traverse. Preferably the axis about which the relative rocking movement of the tool and the blade blank takes place coincides substantially with the edge.

In one convenient construction the tool is carried in a tool holder which is supported in part-cylindrical guides formed in a traversing slide arranged'for movement parallel to the axis of the part-cylindrical guides. The cuttingtool is arranged in the tool holder so that the axis about which the relative angularmovement with respect to the edge surface takes place, coincides with the axis of the part-cylindrical guide, and the holder is arranged for angular movement in the guide under control of suitable cam means, for instance a sine bar arrangement.

According to an important feature of this invention, in an arrangement in which the angular movement of the holder in the part-cylindrical guide is etfected by cam means such as a sine bar arrangement, adjusting means is provided to control the disposition of the sine bar or the like so that the angular movement of the holder in the part-cylindrical guide may also be adjusted.

In one preferred arrangement according to this feature of the invention, the sine bar is engaged by a radius arm extending from the tool holder, and one end of the sine bar is carried by a fixed pivot and the opposite end is adjustedby a crank mechanism so that the angle of the sine bar with respect to the direction of travel of the traversing slide is adjusted. In one convenient form the crank is arranged to be indexed in timed relation to the reciprocations of the traversing slide so that the angle of the sine bar to the direction of h'averse may be adjusted by increments between desired limits. The indexing of the crank mechanism may be efiected through a ratchet device operated from the traversing slide. In order to adjust the limits of the angle of inclination of the sine bar to the direction of traverse, the movable end of the sine bar may be connected to the crank pin by an adjustable link.

According to yet another feature of this invention, apparatus for forming an edge surface as above set forth may include means progressively to feed the tool towards the work-piece, so that for instance if the apparatus is being employed to remove the flash rom a forged compressorblade blank, the flash is not removed in onetraverse of the traversing slide. 7

In one preferred embodiment of apparatus according to this feature of the invention the traversing slide is supported from a guide member which is pivoted at one end cave and convex surfaces of the blade.

yond a desired position.

When the'feedihg is effected during angular adjustment of the tool holder in one sense, and it is desired to machine the blade to its final form in a number of traverses between which the tool holder is adjusted in the opposite sense without feeding of the tool relative to the blade occurring, a suitable lost-motion linkage may be provided between the ratchet mechanism and the taper wedge means.

Some construction of apparatus of this invention for carrying out the method of this invention will now be described as applied to machining the leading edges of axial-flow compressor blades to remove therefrom the metal fiashfformed during forging of the blade blank. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an elevation of a blade blank,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure I,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one construction of apparatus,

Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3, 7

Figure 5 is a part elevation in the direction of arrow 5 in Figure 3 and shows some details of the construction,

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is a detail view,

Figure 8 is a plan and Figure 9 a side elevation of the work-holding means,

Figures 10 and 11 show details of the tool holder with the tool in different positions as compared with Figure 6,

Figures 12A, 12B and 13 are diagrams to an enlarged scale'illustrating the method of this invention,

Figure 14 is an elevational view of a modified construction,

Figure 15 is a section on the line 1515 of Figure 14,

Figure 16 is a view sirniiar to Figure 14 of another modification, and

Figure 17 is a section on line 17-17 of Figure 16.

Referring to the drawings (Figures 1 and 2) the forged blade blank 20 has a portion 29a which in the finished article is the operative portion of the blade, a block-like portion 201; which is subsequently machined to form the blade root attachment, a tab 20c which is subsequently machined away, and a flash 21 along the leading edge of the portion 20a. The leading edge at each chordal section may be represented by a circular arc, the mid point of which is thus the point of symmetr, and the locus of which point defines the edge between the con 7 Referring now to Figures 3 to 11, a machine for removing the flash 21 comprises a table 22 whereon the blade blank 20 is mounted in a suitable work holder 25, and a tool 23 and tool holder 24, and tool-moving means arranged so as to opcrate on the leading edge of the blade blank supported in the work-holder 25.

The work-holder 25 comprises (Figures 8 and 9) a 'vise having a pair of vise jaws 26, 27 shaped respectively to conform to the shape of the convex and concave surfaces of the portion 200 of the blade blank, spring means 28 urging the vise jaws 26, 27 apart and a pair of taper wedges 29, 30, one for each vise jaw. The taper wedges 29, co-operate respectively with an inclined surface 26a, 27a on its associated vise jaw 26, or 27 and the former are connected by tails 29b, 39b to a pivoted lever 31. The wedges 29, 30 are so connected to the lever-'31 that when the lever is rocked, for example by a handle 31a thereon, the wedges 29, 30 are moved in opposite directions thereby moving the vise jaws 26, 27 in opposite direction's; it will thus be appreciated that the inclinations TOfthe wedges 29, 33 are oppositely disposed.

blank and a locating pin 34 to engage with thetab 20s. 1

a blade blank 20 located betweemthe'wise jaws and resting on the dowel pins 33 and locating pin 34 the leading edge is properly positioned in relation to the cutting tool 23-10 have 'the"flash 21-on the leading edge removed and the desired contour indicated in chain lines in Figure 2 given to the leading edge. In this position of the blade blank 20 the leading edge is substantially horizontal and the tool '28 is arranged to betravers'ed along the leading edge.

fl h'e tool 'is a shaving tool having its c utting profile 23d shaped to conform to the shape ofthe desired leading edge at the root end or theblade, which is the part :of the leading "edge having the largest section.

"The tool '23 has a shank 23b by which it is clamped 'to the tool holder 24 (Figures 6, 7,: '10, 1 1) which is mounted by guide :port ions 24a in part-cylindrical guides 35cm :in traversing slide 36 and the tool '23 is adjusted inthe tool holder 24 so that the axis of the part-cylinguides 35 extends sobstantiallyiat right angles to the plane of the cutting profile 23a of the tool and through the point of symmetry of the cutting profile'23a of the tool.-

The traversing slide 36 :is supported from a guide member 374 on dovetail guides 37a to move along the guide member 37 in .a direction parallel to thetaxis of the part-cylindrical guides 35, and thus substantially parallel to theleading edge of a blankztl and the guide member 37 is supported from standards 38, 39 arranged respectively beyond each end of the work-holder 25.

Means (Figures 3 and 4) is provided to reciprocate the traversing slide 36 on the guide member 37. The reciprocating means comprises an electric motor (not shown) driving through spindle 40 a crank wheel 41 having a crank pin 42 engaging a slotted link 44 which is pivoted atone end to the base table 43 of the machine andsis connected by a connecting rod 45 to the traversing slide 36. The crank pin 42 and slotted link 44 are so arranged that the rate of travel of the slide 36 in one direction, .the working direction, is substantially slower .than in the opposite direction, the idle direction. The spindle 40 is supported in a bracket 46 on the base table 43. 7

In order that the traversing slide 36 may partakeof an idle stroke with the tool 23 clear of the blank 20, the following mechanism (Figures 3 to 7) is conveniently provided. The guide member 37 supporting the traversing slide '36 is supported at one end by a pivot pin 47 jjo'u'rnalld in bosses 38a at the upper ends of the standards '38 providedbeyond one end of the work holder 25, and is supported'at its opposite end on a bridge piece 13 secured on the standards 39 located beyond the opposite' end of the work-holder '25 through compression spring 49 which 'is located 'l ae'tw'een 'thefbridge' piece 48 and the free end of the guide member 37. V

The "free -end of the guide member '37 is urged away the bridge piece '48 by the spring 49 and is displaced rewards the bridge piece 48 during the working stidkebya-pairofcam plates tl'whiehehgage the upper surface of the guide member 37 and which are rocked against the pull ofa pairof tension springs 51 by'a connecting rod 52 operated by a rocker arm 53 carrying a cam follower :54 engaging a cam 55 rotating with the crank wheel 41. During the working stroke the :cam plates 5.!) vhold the guide member 37. lowered and it is arranged that at ;the end of the working stroke of the traversing slide 36, the cam plates Stl-are rocked by the cam .55 againstsprings 50 to allow the free end of the glide -member 37 tobe lifted by the-compression spring 59-10 carry ithe tool 23 clear-of the blade blank 29. Ilieca'm plates 50 .are pivoted bya pin 57 to the upper end of a post3 6 secured to the bridge piece 48 and extending upwards through the guide member 37.

.A sliding taper wedge mechanism (Figures 3 "to 5) is provided'to limit the extent to which the guide member 37 is depressed by the cainjplates 50 andis also arranged tenet-mantle "gradual feeding of the tool 23 towards the 6 workpiece so-thatthewhole ofthe flash is not removed in one working stroke of the traversing slide 36. The mechanism comprises a sliding wedge 58 which -co'-operates with and slides between an inclined surface on block 59 secured-entire free end of the guide member 37 and a horizontalslide Way 60, and the mechanism also comprises a bell crank lever 61 pivoted on a pin 62 upstandingfrom the bridge piece 48, one arm of the bell crank 61 having a pin and slot connection with an ex;- tension 58a of the sliding wedge 58'. The other arm of the bell crank lever 61 is pivota'lly connected to one end of a rod-'64 which at its o'ther end has a slot 64a connect ing with a pin'65a on the ratchet wheel 65 of a ratchet mechanism which is indexed by astriker' pin 63 carried on the'travers'ingslide 36.

The arrangement is that onueciprocation of the traversing slide 36 the ratchet wheel "65 is indexed step'-by'- step, thus rocking the bell crank lever 61 step-by-step and gradually withdrawing the sliding wedge 58 from between the block 59 and slideway' 60 so lowering the free end of the guide member 37 and allowing the tool 23 to move down towards the blade blank. Co-operating stops 59a prevent the guide member moving too far towards the blade blank 20.

The ratchet mechanism (Figure 4) comprises a springloaded carrier 66 pivoted about the ratchet wheel axis and carrying a striker pawl '67 engaged with the ratchet wheel eiand comprises also a spring-loaded rebound catch 68. The carrier is struck and rocked lay-the pin 63 on each reciprocation of the traversing slide 36 so that pawl 67 moves the ratchet Wheel 65 one step. On return of the carrier 66 under the action of its spring load the rebound catch '68 prevents reverse rotationof the ratchet wheel 65.

It is arranged that when the Wedge 58 is fully withdrawn so thatthe' tool 23 has been lowered to its fullest extent on to the blank '20 the striker pawl 67 has been rotated to such a position that further rotation of :the ratchet wheel 65 allows the pin 65:: to slide freely along the slot 64a "in the '-rod '64. 'The sliding wedge 58 thus remains stationary until it is manually returned to its initial position.

As stated above, the too'l'holder 24 is arranged in partcylindrical guides 35 and it is arranged that during traverse of the tool 23 in the working direction the tool holder 24 is rotated in the part-cylindrical guides 35 and thus the tool 23 and the blade blank 20 adjusted angularly relatively to one another about an axis which is substantially at right angles to the plane of the cutting profile "ofthe tool 23 and 'passes through the point of symmetry of the cutting" profile of the tool. The relative movement is illustrated in Figures '6, 'IO-and 11.

The rotation of the tool holder 24 in the part-cylindrical guides 35 is elfecte'd in the following manner. A radius arm 76 on the tool holder 24 projects through a slot 71 in the'traversing slide 37 and engages by a forked end with a sine bar 72 which in efiect acts as a cam to rotate the tool holder. The angle of inclination of the sine bar with respect to the direction of travel of the traversing slide 36 is adjustable so that both the initial angular position of the tool holder 24 at the beginning of a working stroke, and also the extent to which 'thetool holder 24 is rotated in the part-circular guides 35 during a working stroke, may be varied. For-this purpose the sine 'bar 72 (Figure 3) ispivoted at one end to a bracket ,73 mounted on the guide member 37 and is connected at its opposite end by an adjustable link 74 to a crank pin .75 carried by a crank wheel 76rotatably mounted on the guide member. As the crank wheel 76 rotates so the end of the sine bar'72 which is connected to the link 74, is raised or lowered, rocking the sine bar 72 about its pivot in the bracket '73 and thus increasing or decreasing the extent to which the sine bar '72 .is inclined to the direction of travel of the traversing slide 36. "It will be appreciated that when the sine bar .72 is parallelto the direction of travel of the traversing slide '36, the tool E holder 24 will not be rotated in the part-circular guides 35 and that the greater the extent to which the sine bar 72 is inclined to the direction of travel of the traversing slide 36, the greater is the extent to which the tool holder 24 is rotated in the part-circular guides 35.

The crank wheel 76 is arranged to be indexed thereby effecting a step-by-step change, in alternation with the working strokes of the traversing slide 36, of the angular position of the tool holder 24 during the working stroke. It may be arranged that the tool holder moves from one limiting angular position in steps to the other limiting position, and back to its original position, during one revolution of the crank wheel'76. For this purpose there is provided a second ratchet mechanism (Figure 7) operated by a second striker pin 77 on the traversing slide 36-and each time the traversing slide makes a working stroke the ratchet wheel 78 of the ratchet mechanism is advanced one notch and the crank wheel 76 is rotated one step.

The wheel 78 rotates with the crankwheel 76 and is rotated by a'pawl '79 which is carried on a pivoted carrier 80 having a part 8% in the path of pin 77. The carrier 30 is loaded by a spring 81 and reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel 78 is prevented by rebound catch 82. A stop 81a limits the motion of carrier 89 under the influence of spring 81.

The crank wheel 76 incorporates a cam 83 for operating a shut-oh switch 84 for stopping the machine at the end of the working operation.

. In use of the machine above described, after setting up a blade blank in the work-holder and the ap propriately shaped tool 23in the tool holder 24, the length of the adjustable link 74 is set to give the desired initial angle of the sinebar which determines the initial angular position of the tool 23 and also determines, together with the position of pin on wheel 76, the angular-adjustment of the tool on each Working stroke. The sliding wedge 58 is then displaced to lift the guide member 37 and thus the tool 23. The machine is then started and the tool 23 reciprocates; during each cutting is thus also changed in increments in accordance with the position of the sine bar.

Taking the length of a blade 29a as a unit length, then if the blade has a twist of angle o: along its length and has a uniform section,'the sine bar 72 will be re ,quired to rotate the tool relative to the workpiece through an angle 1x on each working stroke and the indexing mechanism for the crank would be rendered inoperative. Thus referring to Figure 12A at the left, represents the blade section at the root and 91 the blade section at the tip; these sections are at an angle or and clearly in moving a tool 23 along the blade edge the tool is adjusted through the same angle.

If the blade has no twist but decreases in thickness as indicated by the root and tip sections 92, 93 (Figure 1213) then the sine bar 72 is adjusted by steps between a position in which the tool 23 is given a rotation of 3, relative to the blade blank, during a cutting stroke and a position in which the tool is given a rotation of ,8 during a cutting stroke; that is to say, the sine bar 72 is moved by crank wheel 76 between two limiting positions which make an equal angle with, but are on opposite sides of its mean position, the latter being parallel with the direction of movement of the tool holder in its guides.

' Thus, in one limiting position half the cutting profile 23a of the tool 23 is engagcd with one edge surface 92 I at the-other limiting position the other half of the cutting profile of the tool sweeps out the other edge surface. Lines 94, 95, 96 represent the line of symmetry of the cutting tool in the two limiting positions and the mean position respectively.

If, as is more usual, the blade both tapers in thick ness and has a twist (Figure 13) in which 97 and 98 are the root and tip sections respectively, then the sine bar 72 will be adjusted by steps during machining be tween two limiting positions, in one of which the angular adjustment of the tool 23 by rotation of the tool holder in the part-cylindrical guides 35 during the working stroke is represented by n+5, and in the other ofwhich the adjustment during a working stroke is represented by a;3, as indicated by the positions 99, 100 of the line of symmetry of the cutting profile 23. The mean position of the line of symmetry is indicated at 101.

it is of course possible to arrange that the machine above described produces other relative displacements of the blade blank 20 and tool 23 during a working stroke. For instance the work-holder 25 may be ar-. ranged to be displaced on the table 22 during the working stroke in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the traversing slide 36. Such a movement may lie desirable where the axes of symmetry of the leading edge sections at the root and tip, when viewedin a di' rection of the spanwise axis or" the blade, appear to intersect beyond the leading edge. a

The relative angular movernent of the tool and the edge during traverse of the tool may be accomplished by further mechanism either alternative to or additional to the above described sine bar and crank mechanism. Thus referring to Figures 14 to 17, the blade blank 20 and its holder 25 may be mounted on a rockable table 1-01 supported by pivots 102 engaged in pillars 103 sons to pivot about'an axis passing substantially through the point of symmetry of the root and tip sections of the edge or" the blade blank 20 which is to be worked. This axis coincides substantially with the axis about which the tool holder 24 is rocked in the above described sine bar and crank ararngement when the tool 23 has been fed to its fullest extent on to theblade blank by withdrawal of the sliding taper wedge 58. The means (Figures 14, 15) for rocking the table 101 may comprise a first plunger 104 sliding in the base table 43 against spring 105 and bearing on the undersurface of the table 101 to one side of the vertical plane through the rocking axis of the 'table 101, and bearing also on the inclined surface of a ramp 106 arranged on a carriage 107 to be reciprocated simultaneously with the traversing slide through connecting rod 108, rocker 109 and crank wheel 110 which is conveniently driven with wheel 41. A second plunger. 111 slidingly engaged in the base 43 is loaded by a compression spring 112 located between the machine bed and one end of the plunger to urge the rockable table 101 into engagement with plunger 104. The plunger 111 engages the table on the side of the vertical plane through the rocking axis opposite the plunger 104. As the traversing slide 36 carries the tool 23 over the edge which is being machined the plunger 104 will ride up the inclined surface of the ramp 106 to rock the table in one direction (thus effecting relative angular movement be tween the tool 23 and the edge of the blade blank) and on the idle stroke the spring 112 operates through plunger 11]. to rock the table in the reverse direction. Means may be provided to vary the angle of inclination of the ramp 106.

Iustead' of the means shown in Figures 14, 15 for rocking the table 101, the carriage 107 may carry as shown in Figure 16 a block 113 having at its upper end a 114 were; supports a roller 1 "1 5' running ifi' guides 116' cnt'fin the base table 43' and engages spender grepve in apart-cylindrical 51m 118 carried the w 1nfClearly as the carriageis recipmcatea the table 01 b'e rocked by the' pin' 114 travelling along the groove It' will be 'apreciate'd that the simultaneous angular adjustment of the 06123 and the blade blank zfl p'enr'iits the machining of a 'bladefhaving' a greater twist than can otherwise be machined.

It may liearr'ang'ed that the cutting stroke takes place in the opposite direction with respect to the bla'nk'flthat is", flie teal cuts .from the tip to the root of the blank.

1. laim 1. AlfifhQd of machining an edge of a tapered blade ,fr axial-flow compressor or turbine, which method .cb pfise'sthe stepser forming the edge :by effecting a movement of the tool on a blade ihlankina direc- .t'itiii.le'figtlii i fisje oftheibladeblank, with the tool straddling are of tli Blade blank, and simultaneously effecting riofltfolld relative rocking movement of the tool and 'bla'd about which is siihs'taii'tially parallel it'dthedirctior'i of movement and passesmreugh the' p'oint of of the tool profile, said relative rocking rhciveme'nt being controlled at each -instant during the movement of the tool to have an afig'uiar motion dependent span the desired outline: of the section of the blade at the position or the tool at that instant.

2. A method as flainiedjin .Elair'n 1,, wherein the thickness of the edge section of the blade decreases from root to tip to an-extentsuch that the tool and the blade blank nius'fbe angular-1y adjusted through an angle 5 per unit length oferase to enable the pertionof the cutting profile of tool to one side of its pointof symmetry to sweepont -thedesired contour of the corresponding surface adjacent the edge, and wherein the :edge is produced; by aseries of traverses of the rtool with respect to sthe blade ibla'snk -with -relative rocking movement of the teol and ahe blade blank during each traverse and the extent of the relative rocking is varied in increments from traverse to traverse from a maximum angular adjustment during the one traverse er ,8 per unit length of blade in one direction from the .mean position and to a maximum angular adjustment during another traverse of :18 ;per unit length of blade in the opposite direction from the mean position.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blade has a twist of angle on per unit length, and wherein the relative rocking of the tool and blade blank is varied in increments between the limits e-l-fl and ot-fi per unit length of relative traverse of the tool and blade blank.

4. Apparatus for machining an edge portion of blade blank to produce a tapered blade for an axial-flow com pressor or turbine, which apparatus comprises a shaving tool having a cutting profile conforming in part to the profile of a transverse section of the desired edge portion at the root of the blade, a tool holder to support said tool to straddle the edge portion or" the blade blank, a traversing slide arranged for reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to the edge of the blade blank and carrying said tool holder, means supporting said blade blank and tool for controlled relative angular movement about an axis which is substantially parallel to the direction of movement and passes through the point of symmetry of the tool profile, and means controlling said relative angular movement so as to have at each instant during movement of the tool an angular motion dependent upon the desired outline of the section of the blade edge at the position of the tool at that instant.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said controlling means comprises a radius arm projecting from the tool holder, and a sine bar engaged by the outer end of said arm whereby said arm is displaced angularly.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, comprising a 10 bracket; one an '6? the sine bar *be'ing pivoted in said ibraekee and said *sine ear having its opposite end sepmeans adjustable to var the angle-er incline r the sine liar" with respect to' the direction at frayel ofthe fravefsing'slide.

7. Apparattis claimed in claim 6, wherein said means to seeped said -opposite end of the sine bar is arranged to adjust the angle of inclination of the sine bariii 'aiternafionw'vith'the reciprocation of the traversing slide.

Apparates according 'to claim 7, wherein said means supporting the opposite end of the sine b'ar comprises a crank 'nre'chariisr'n to adjust said opposite end of 't'liesi ne bar a ratchet mechanism arranged to be aemateaey reciprocation of the traversing slide' arranged to rotate the-erank' mechanism step-bystep.

9,. rkpparams as" claimed in claim 4 wherein said blade lilarik sup'fporting'fneans' comprises a work holder'whereili the liladeblarik is carried, anda swinging table where-en the work-holder is stippor't'ed, sa id swinging table being g'ed' wee-racked 'in'tirned relation the traversing rreverent ofjthe traversing slide to 'etfect in part at least'therelative' rocking of th'tool and blade blank.

it). apparatuses claimed in claim 9, comprisilig cam iiiea'n's arrang d to rock the swin i g ta'hle, s'a'ideam' means mending t carr'i'age arranged for reciprocation 't'imed relagienwitn the'itr'avers'ingslide, and ceoperas earn and ronewer arts on said carriage and the swinging table,-

ll. Apparatus claimed in clair'n 4', comprising also ffee'd thje'tool 'hladehlank stepwise towards one iant "r dining reeiproc'atienef the traversing slide.

12. Appara tfis as clair'iied in clai m 4, comprising also do! and blade blank stepwise towards 4 reciprocation of'the traversing slide", aliid mearisdojperinit' th'eft'ool t partake of a working stiok' lin one direction of travel of the traversing slide or an idl stroke in the opposite direction of travel of the traversing slide. I

13'. Appa'ra tus for machining an edge portion ofa bladebank of an anal-flew compressor or tiirbine'blade', which apparatus comprises a work holder wherein the blade bank is carrid, a shaving tool having a cutting p'ifdfile qeerdrmin to the rofileef a transverse section of the de'sire'd edge jjo'rtioiilat' the root of the blade, a tool holder to s pper-t said tool to straddle the edge portion of the Blade blaiik, a traversifig's'lide afranged for reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to the edge of the blade blank, part-cylindrical guides in said traversing slide and having their axis substantially in said edge of the blade blank and having said tool holder mounted therein for angular movement about said axis, rocking means connected with the tool holder to effect said angular movement about said axis simultaneously with the reciprocating movement of the traversing slide, a

man rerea the It swinging table mounted to swing about the axis of said part-cylindrical guides and carrying said work-holder, and cam means adapted to rock the swinging table in timed relation with the traversing movement of the traversing slide to efiect relative rocking of the tool and blade blank, said cam means comprising a carriage mounted for reciprocation in timed relation with movement of the traversing slide, a ramp carried on the carriage, a first spring-loaded sliding plunger bearing at one end on the inclined surface of the ramp and at the opposite end on the table, and a second spring-loaded plunger maintaining the table, said first spring-loaded plunger and said ramp in engagement.

14. Apparatus for machining an edge portion of a blade blank of an axial-flow compressor or turbine blade, which apparatus comprises a work holder wherein the blade blank is carried, a shaving tool having a cutting profile conforming to the profile of a transverse section of the desired edge portion at the root of the blade, a tool holder to support said tool to straddle the edge portion of the blade blank, a traversing slide arranged'for reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to the edge of the blade blank, part-cylindrical guides in said traversing slide and having their axis substantially in said edge of the blade blank and having said tool holder mounted therein for angular movement about said axis, rocking means connected with the tool holder to effect said angular movement about said axis simultaneously with the reciprocating movement of the traversing slide, a swinging table mounted to swing about the axis of said part-cylindrical guides and carrying said work holder, and cam means adapted to rock the swinging table in timed relation with the traversing movement of the traversing slide to etfect relative rocking of the tool and blade blank, said cam means comprising a carriage mounted for reciprocation in timed relation with movement of the traversing slide, and a pin and slot connection between the carriage and swinging table, the slot being helical, whereby on reciprocation of the carriage the pin travels in the slot and rocks the swinging table.

15. Apparatus for machining an edge portion of a blade blank of an axial-flow compressor or turbine blade, which apparatus comprises a shaving tool having a cutting profile conforming to the profile of a transverse section of the desired edge portion at the root of the blade, a tool holder to support said tool to straddle the edge portion of the blade blank, a traversing slide arranged for reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to the edge of the blade blank, part-cylindrical guides in said traversing slide and having their axis substantially in said edge of the blade blank and having said tool holder mounted therein for angular movement about said axis, rocking means connected with the tool holder to elfect said angular movement about said axis simultaneously with the reciprocating movement of the traversing slide, and means to feed the tool and blade blank stepwise towards one another during reciprocation of the traversing slide comprising a guide member having the traversing slide supported slidingly thereon, wedge means to support the guide member, and means operated on reciprocation of the traversing slide to adjust the wedge means relative to the guide member and thereby feed the tool and blade blank towards one another.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, comprising a bell-crank lever arranged to displace the wedge means,

and a ratchet wheel rotatable step-by-step by the reciprocation of the traversing slide and connected to the bellcrank lever to rock it in a stepwise manner.

17. Apparatus for machining an edge portion of a blade blank of an axial-flow compressor or turbine blade, which apparatus comprises a shaving tool having a cutting profile conforming to the profile of a transverse section of the desired edge portion at the root of the blade, 2. tool holder to support said tool to straddle the edge portion of the blade'blank, a traversing slide arranged for reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to the edge of the blade blank, part-cylindrical guides in said traversing slide and having their axis substantially in said edge of the blade blank and having said tool holder mounted therein for angular movement about said axis, rocking means connected with the tool holder to effect said angular movement about said axis simultaneously with the reciprocating movement of the traversing slide, a guide member having the traversing slide supported slidingly thereon, said guide member being pivoted at one end, wedge means arranged to cooperate with said guide member to define the working position of the tool in a direction at right angles to the edge of the blade blank, means arranged on reciprocation of the traversing slide to adjust said wedge means relative to said guide member thereby to feed the tool in a direction towards said edge of the blade blank, 2. spring to urge said guide member to pivot out from cooperation with said wedge means, and rockable cam means arranged to be rocked in timed relation with reciprocation of said traversing slide and arranged on rocking in one direction to pivot said guide member against said spring and into cooperation with said wedge means and on rocking in the,

opposite direction to permit said spring to move said guide member out from cooperation with said wedge means. 7

1 References Cited in the file a this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,001,908 Venner Aug. 29, 1911 1,379,267 Keller I May 24, 1921 1,985,752 Vogler Dec. 25, 1934 2,341,194 Schwartz et al. Feb. 8, 1944 2,397,917 Burrill Apr. 9, 1946 2,534,230 Chandler Dec. 19, 1950 2,590,042 Root Mar. 18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 374 Great Britain Jan. 10, 1887 168,391 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1921.

rule- ANN", 

